I am a newbie to networking. I think I have a good grasp on Switching, routing and VLANs. I am trying to extend my knowledge to wireless networks. Looking for answers on a few questions
Should I connect Wireless access point to a trunk port on the switch
Is WAP technically a router or a switch.
1) Should I connect Wireless access point to a trunk port on the switch
That depends. Are you using a single SSID and comfortable with the WAP management address on the same network as the wireless users? If so, an access interface should work. If you want to offer multiple SSIDs, or you want to manage the WAP at an address on a different network, then you need to connect the WAP to a trunk interface.
2) Is WAP technically a router or a switch.
A WAP is a bridge, like a switch. Unlike a switch, a WAP is a translating bridge; it must translate the layer-2 protocols between ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11). Those two protocols use different frames, and the WAP must convert them. In the old days, we had translating bridges for ethernet and token ring (IEEE 802.5). An ethernet switch is a transparent bridge.
You can assign access-point to access ports passing specific single Vlan .
Assuming Vlan 10
Switch (config)#int f0/0
Switch(config)#switchport mode access
Switch(config)#switchport access Vlan10
Switch(config)#no shutdown
Wireless access point (WAP) is considered as layer3 device .
